Apparatus for securing a tube or tubes in a body member



Jan. 29, 1957 P. s. MAIWURM 2,779,279

APPARATUS FOR SECURING A TUBE OR TUBES IN A BODY MEMBER Filed March 8, 1952 vii/4 INVENTQR 5. Man warm ATTORNEY United States Patent APPARATUS FOR SECURING A TUBE OR TUBES IN 'A BODY MEMBER The object of this invention is to devise a novel apparatus for securing a tube or tubes in a body or supporting member.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel apparatus for confining an explosive charge within a tube or tubes and igniting the charge to create an expanding pressure which will securely lock the tubes or tube within a body member.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel body member with a bore having depressions or grooves within its walls, and a novel construction and arrangement of spaced confiners on a cable, with an. explosive charge between the confiners forming a unit insertable into the tube or tubes and provided with means to etfect the explosion of the explosive charge.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will hereinafter clearly appear, my invention comprehends a novel apparatus for securing a tube or tubes within a body member.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments of it which, in practice, will give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown except by the scope of the appended claims.

Figure l is a side elevation of tubes insertable into a body member, the latter being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a section of the tubes and body member with the confiners, explosion charge and charge igniting means in position.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation similar to Figure 2 after the explosion has taken place.

Figure 4 shows the next step of the operation with the confining means withdrawn.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the confining means with a difierent embodiment of an explosive charge.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of another embodiment of the invention showing the body member with angularly located openings and a bent tube with 0 rings which latter are expanded into grooves in the body member.

Figure 7 is an end view of a tube with the cable in section.

Figure 8 shows a tube expanded by the explosion into a body member with an angular bore.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Figure 10.

Figure 10 is a sectional elevation of another embodiment of the invention wherein the confiners are ring shaped instead of being ball shaped and the explosive charge is in sleeve formation between the rings.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

In Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, I have shown tubes 1 and 2 and a 'body member 3 having a bore with annular grooves 4. a 1 v The confining and explosive retaining device has spaced balls fixed in any desiredmanner to a flexible cable 5, the balls being indicated at 6 and 7. In many cases, the cable is not flexible but may be. in, the form of a nod and for purpose of illustration only I have shown a spirally wound cable on which the balls 6 and 7 are threaded. Theballs have a loose fit in the tubes so that products of combustion can pass between them and the wall of the bore of the tubes.

The explosive charge in Figure 2 is shown at 8 in the form of a cord or tapewoundaround the cable between the spaced balls but this charge may have any desired form. The cord or tape form has the advantage that its length may be readily selected according to the explosive force desired.

An ignition wire extends through one or more of the balls and terminates in close proximity to the explosive charge, and is controlled by a storage battery or other source of electric supply in the well known manner.

In Figure 5, the explosive charge is shown as having a metal sleeve 10 positioned between balls 6 and 7, the

sleeve forming two sections having inwardly converging pockets or grooves 11 in which the explosive charge 13 in any desired form is placed. The force of the explosion is directed in opposite directions towards the juxtaposed ends of the tubes and prevents them from moving away from each other.

In Figure 6, I have shown a bent tube inserted into an angular bore of a body member. A bent tube 14 is locked in the bore in the manner already described and in addition has sealing rings 15 seated in grooves of the bore.

In Figures 9 and 10, the explosive mixture is within a sleeve 16 positioned between flattened balls 17 and 18.

An ignition wire 19 is provided, and the confining members 17 and 18 are fixed in spaced relationship on the cable 20 in any desired manner.

In Figure 8, a tube is shown fixed in an angle block 21, it being understood that the contour of the body member and its dimensions may vary widely in practice.

In many construction operations and especially in aircraft construction, there is very little space in which to make the proper connections for tubing and pipes and this is particularly true when tubes of small diameter are to be connected. The method herein disclosed materially reduces the cost of such work and provides an efiective lock and seal between the component parts.

The assembly clearly shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive where two pipes are to be connected to a body member. The pipes or tubes 1 and 2 shown in Figure 1 are moved into the body member into the position seen in Figure 2. The explosive unit comprising the balls acting as confiners, the explosive charge and the wire igniter are moved into the position seen in Figure 2 and the charge is exploded as shown in Figure 33, causing the wall of the tube to be expanded into the grooves of the body member. The cable, balls and igniter wire are then withdrawn as shown in Figure 4.

If desired, 0 sealing rings may also be used as shown in Figure 6 to provide a positive sealing against leakage.

In Figure 5 due to the converging pockets or grooves in the different sections of the sleeve 10, the forces created by the explosion are substantially balanced for each tube.

In Figures 9 and 10, the confiners are in the form of flattened balls. The confiners preferably in all of the embodiments herein shown have a slip fit in the tube or tubes and provides a slight clearance with the wall of the tube or tubes to permit some of the products of combustion to escape.

Having thus-described:mydnvention, what I claim'as new. and. desire. to. secureby. Letters. .Ratent. isz.

1. An explosive unit for insertion into a tube, comprising a cable, solid confiners loosely fitting the tube and fixed. in longitudinally spacedirelationship onlthe .cable, a sleeve between the confiners having grooves .angularly, inclined towards the centenof the sleeve, explosivematerial in the groovesoli-thesleeve, and; means to ignitethe explosive material.

2. An explosive unit for insertion intoa tube, com prisinga cable, confiners inthe form of balls fixed to the cable in longitudinally-spaced relationship a nd having a slip fit in the tube to form with theinner wall of the tube an explosion chamber, anexplosive charge between said confiners in the form oi a cord Wound around the cable, and an ignition wire; extending through one of the confiners to theexplosive charge. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

